The bongo is a strikingly
beautiful forest antelope that is found in parts of Kenya, the Congo Basin,
East Africa, and West Africa. They are the largest of the forest antelopes;
males can weigh close to 900 pounds, and females up to 600 pounds. Bongos
have rich chestnut coats, with each individual displaying a unique pattern
of camouflaging white stripes along its side. Both sexes have heavy spiraled
horns. There are two subspecies of bongo, the mountain bongo from Kenya,
which is endangered, and the western or lowland bongo, which is listed
as near threatened. All bongos in captivity are mountain bongos.

Bongos are found in very
dense tropical jungle regions, usually near forest margins. They use their
long prehensile tongues and their horns to glean the leaves, twigs, grasses,
roots, fruits and flowers that comprise their diet. Bongos crave salt,
and have been observed visiting salt licks near forest edges. They are
also known to consume wood that has been charred by lightning, presumbably
as a way of satisfying their need for salt and other minerals. This animal
requires a permanent supply of water.

Since bongos are extremely
shy and elusive creatures, not a great deal is known about their habits
in their native setting. They are active in the early morning and at night
and have been observed browsing in areas where forest meets grassland.
They will frequently wallow in mud, rubbing their hides and horns against
trees afterward to clean themselves. Although capable of making very high
leaps, bongos generally prefer to go under or around obstacles. When fleeing
a threat, bongos have been observed to hold their horns on the back of
their necks, possibly to avoid entanglement in surrounding vegetation.
As a result of this behavior, older bongos will sometimes have bare patches
of fur on their backs. Bongos have a wide range of vocalizations, including
grunts, snorts, a mooing call, and a bleat-like alarm call.

Among forest antelopes, bongos
are the only ones to form herds. While usually found in small family groups
consisting of females and their young, they may temporarily gather in
herds of up to 45 animals at salt licks and waterholes. Males are generally
solitary animals, but several males can accompany a herd. Unlike most
other African antelopes, bongos are not territorial and will not defend
ground against other individuals. Home ranges are generally around 40
square miles.

Bongos breed seasonally,
with a single calf being born in about nine months. After birth, calves
are left alone in the underbrush, lying still to avoid detection by predators.
The mother periodically returns to her calf to nurse.

Bongos rely heavily on their
sense of hearing rather than their sight or smell. Their large ears help
them to hear approaching predators, such as leopards, hyenas and humans.
Hunters consider the bongo a valuable trophy. The other main threat to
the bongo is posed by the destruction of its habitat.